Black History in Government Records: Featuring U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 1957-Present

Documenting America in Government Records

From laws and reports to statistics and public programs, government publications offer critical evidence of history in the United States.

February

 Black History in Government Records

Featuring U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 1957-Present

[Source of the Image: Public Domain]

Have you ever wondered:

• If someone is denied the right to vote because of their race, gender, or disability, who investigates?

• If a federal policy might cause discrimination, who raises the concern? Is it the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)? Or the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education?

These two agencies are the most well-known when it comes to U.S. civil rights enforcement.

But behind them, there is another longstanding, quiet, yet influential federal body—the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR). For nearly seventy years, it has shaped public discussions on civil rights in America.

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How Was the USCCR Established?

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Before that, in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that public school segregation was unconstitutional. However, many states in the South resisted the ruling, delaying implementation or openly defying it.

Congress asked a crucial question: Are American citizens truly enjoying the civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution?

To investigate fairly and independently, the USCCR was set up as an independent, bipartisan fact-finding agency. Originally temporary, it became a permanent institution due to the ongoing need to address civil rights issues.

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What Does the USCCR Do?

Unlike courts or enforcement agencies, the USCCR does not judge or punish.
Its focus is investigation, documentation, and public reporting.

Key responsibilities include:

• Investigating complaints of citizens being denied voting rights due to race, color, gender, age, disability, or national origin

• Collecting and analyzing information on discrimination and violations of constitutional equal protection

• Evaluating federal laws and policies for their impact on civil rights

• Serving as a national clearinghouse for civil rights information

• Submitting reports and recommendations to the President and Congress

• Issuing public service announcements to advocate against discrimination and promote equality

In short, it acts as a “watchdog and advisor”—investigating, reporting, and providing evidence to guide policy and legal action.

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What Does the USCCR Not Do?

The USCCR does not:

• Hear or adjudicate cases

• Determine legal responsibility

• Issue legally binding orders

• Fine or punish individuals or organizations

However, if someone submits a civil rights complaint, the Commission can direct them to the appropriate government agency for further action.

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How Is the USCCR Different from EEOC and OCR?

• EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
  Handles workplace discrimination, such as unfair hiring, promotion, or termination.

• OCR (Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education)
  Oversees schools and universities to ensure students have equal access to education.

• USCCR (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)
  Does not enforce laws directly. Instead, it investigates, researches, and reports to influence policy and legal change.
  Think of it as a national-level “civil rights watchdog and advisor.”

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Why Does This Matter to Students?

Students might care about:

• Whether voting rights are restricted

• Whether your campus is fair and accessible

• Whether students with disabilities have equal access to resources

• Whether minority groups face unfair treatment

Reports and data from the USCCR are a key resource for writing papers, conducting research, and understanding social issues.

Through these public resources, you can see:

• How civil rights issues are identified
• How the government records and responds to these issues
• How public information supports democracy and equality

For libraries, the USCCR represents a core value: transparent government investigations and publicly accessible information. Its reports, hearings, and data are essential tools for students, researchers, journalists, and the public to understand how civil rights function in reality—not just on paper.

In February, during the Black History Month, the Kelley Center presents and invites everyone to come and visit our new display featurering the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. This display highlights how federal agencies have documented, influenced, and responded to Black experiences throughout U.S. history. It is part of the Kelley Center’s America250@Fondren program.Visit the program webpage to learn more about this program and explore a variety of our on-site exhibits and activities this month.

(By A.X.)

Mail Voting Alert: Understand and Get Ready for the Changed USPS Postmark Rule

U.S. Postal Service’s new rule on postmarks could affect mail voters

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has enacted a new final rule, effective December 24, 2025, which clarifies that a postmark date reflects when mail is processed at a USPS facility, not necessarily when it is dropped off. This change has significant implications for election policies in states that rely on postmarks to determine if a mail-in ballot was submitted on time.

Key Policy Change Details

• Old definition (general expectation): The postmark typically indicated the date and location where the USPS first accepted possession of the mail item, such as at a local post office or collection box.

• New definition (clarification): The official postmark date now explicitly means the date the item is first processed by an automated sorting machine, usually at a large, regional processing hub.

• The gap: Due to recent USPS operational overhauls and transportation changes, there can be a delay of one or more days between dropping off mail and its arrival at a processing facility to receive a postmark.

• Impact on elections: For the 14 states and Washington D.C. that have election laws allowing mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked on or before Election Day, ballots dropped in a mailbox on Election Day might not be postmarked until the next day or later, potentially leading to their rejection. 

Recommendations for Voters
To ensure a time-sensitive document, such as a mail-in ballot or tax return, is considered on time: 

• Request a manual postmark: Take the mail item to a retail counter at a post office and explicitly request a manual, hand-stamped postmark with the current date. This service is provided free of charge.

• Use official drop boxes: If available in your area, use an official election drop box managed by local election officials to ensure your ballot is received by the deadline.

• Plan ahead: Mail time-sensitive documents several days before the deadline to accommodate potential processing delays.

• Track your ballot: Use state-specific services, like Track my Ballot (votetexas.gov) or contact your local election office, to confirm when your ballot was received and counted. 

This change has led to concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement and has prompted election officials to encourage voters to use drop boxes or mail their ballots earlier.

(by Anna Xiong, Kelley Center for Government Information and Civic Engagement and Veronica Reyna, Center for Civic Leadership)

(Photo credit: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/garner)

Get Outdoor in 2026: Exploring Texas by Foot—and by Map

This winter break, I had the chance to visit several incredible Texas state parks near Austin and San Antonio: Pedernales Falls, Lost Maples, Enchanted Rock, and Garner State Park. Last winter, I explored Longhorn Cavern and McKinney Falls. Each landscape told a unique story—rivers carving limestone, ancient granite domes rising from the plains, and seasonal changes shaping both ecology and human activity. Hiking and visiting these parks is not just recreation—it’s a powerful way to learn about Texas history, geology, and culture firsthand.

Maps are more than navigation tools—they are gateways to understanding place. Long before these areas became parks, they appeared on early survey maps, military routes, and geological charts that documented Texas’s transformation over time. Trails often follow paths shaped by Indigenous communities, early settlers, and natural forces, connecting present-day exploration with centuries of history.

As a library department managing over 50,000 print maps, we see maps as essential tools for discovery, learning, and research. For those who cannot visit these parks soon—or are planning their next adventure—we invite you to explore our small on-site display in the Map Room, featuring official Texas Travel Guide, Texas State Parks guides, including Your Guide to Texas Public Campgrounds, Texas Wildflowers, and detailed park maps of trails, facilities, and activities.

In today’s digital and AI-driven world, print maps offer a refreshing, tactile escape. Visitors can touch, feel, unfold, and even smell the maps, enjoy quiet time alone, bring friends, or visit as a family. Engaging with print materials supports slower, more reflective exploration while developing spatial thinking and curiosity.

Print maps can also be used in combination with other official government publications, scientific and historical maps from different periods, reference books like large print Atlases and How-To books, and even large 3D globe at Kelley Center. This allows for side-by-side comparison, deeper investigation, and immersive engagement for learning, teaching, research, getting inspiration and creating. Trails, rivers, and landscapes come alive when paired with historical maps, geological charts, and scientific data—making print maps not just a tool, but an experience.

Whether you’re visiting individually, with a group, or for a class session, Kelley Center staff are happy to help. Plan your visit, stop by the Kelley Center Information Desk, or schedule an appointment by emailing govhelp@rice.edu. A limited number of print copies of Texas State Parks guides are available for free, so come explore, plan your next trip, or dive into a multi-sensory, map-based journey through Texas history and landscapes.

You may also be interested in the new America250@Fondren program, which offers year-long opportunities in 2026 to explore American and Texas history through Fondren Library. Click here to learn more.

(By Anna Xiong)